Now Thank We All Our God Happy Thanksgiving

Now thank we all our God,
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things hath done,
in whom his world rejoices;
who from our mother's arms
hath blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever-joyful hearts
and blessèd peace to cheer us;
and keep us in his grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
in this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son, and Holy Ghost,
supreme in highest heaven,
the one eternal God,
whom earth and heaven adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.

The Camel's Back

The camel's back is almost broken, I haven't gotten to the last straw , but the bundle in my hand is thinning out, and the load the camel is carrying is growing. It's been a hard fought year, one with many stresses and trials--strong tension threaded through all the days of this year. And, yet, I find refuge through it all, in the loving arms of my God and Savior. Is my anxiety gone-no, are my tears vanquished-no, do my fears linger-yes, do I still grapple with anger and resentment-yes. But, now I have a strength to help me hold on, to muddle through this cat's cradle web of life.